38 Hyatt Summerfield Suites and 16 Recently Acquired LodgeWorks
Hotels to Be Rebranded; Select-Service Expansion Key to Serving Global
Customer Base
CHICAGO, Sep 19, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) today announced that it is evolving
its extended-stay brand into a distinctive new hotel concept - Hyatt
HouseTM - that will redefine the segment into a social and
contemporary environment to help guests feel connected, welcome, and at
home. As part of the unveiling, Hyatt announced it would rebrand to
Hyatt House its entire portfolio of 38 Hyatt Summerfield Suites(R) hotels,
as well as 16 Hotel Sierra(R) hotels that Hyatt recently acquired from
LodgeWorks, L.P.
Inspired by extensive research and consumer insights, Hyatt House
seamlessly combines form and function to create a warm, inviting, and
comfortable environment. Upon arrival, guests are encouraged to relax
with design elements and amenities that feel closer to home, allowing
them to easily connect with others through enhanced social spaces.
"We looked very closely at the way extended-stay guests live their lives
today and built a strong, innovative concept based on those needs," said
Mark S. Hoplamazian, president and chief executive officer of Hyatt
Hotels Corporation. "We've created what we believe will be a very
successful concept - one that is social and sophisticated, yet casual
and comfortable, and really allows guests to feel like residents of a
connected neighborhood and community. I'm confident that with Hyatt
House, we have the opportunity to repeat the same success we've had with
Andaz and Hyatt Place, which have redefined their categories since their
introduction."
Signature Elements: A Little Closer to Home
Working in collaboration with architecture and interior design firm
Stonehill & Taylor, every Hyatt House will combine details that surprise
and delight with unexpected touches that warmly welcome guests.
"We are thrilled to be working with Hyatt to create signature design
elements that truly capture the essence of the Hyatt House brand," said
Michael Suomi, principal at Stonehill & Taylor. "We've helped bring to
life a new design that mirrors the way people live in their own homes
today and raises expectations on what hotel living can be."
Hyatt House signature elements include:
Engaging Social Spaces: Each Hyatt House willfeature a
Great Lounge, a multi-purpose area with distinct spaces featuring new
signature chairs with built-in digital plugs and gadget resting spots,
an oversized social sectional, and a glass-enclosed game room equipped
with a state-of-the-art home entertainment system, a pool table, and
more. Inspired by the way the kitchen is the heart of any home and
revolves around cooking, conversation, and entertainment, the Great
Lounge will feature the H Bar, an integrated island that transforms from
a breakfast bar in the morning to a cocktail bar in the evening with
small plates, providing a place to gather with colleagues, friends and
family. Each Hyatt House will provide an extension of its social spaces
with a unique backyard concept, complete with a built-in kitchen and
conversation area centered around a signature fire pit.
Apartment-Style Suite Design: Hyatt House will feature studio,
one- and two-bedroom kitchen suites that are reminiscent of a
well-appointed, urban residence designed with extended-stay travelers'
needs in mind. Residence-like touches include peek-a-boo cabinets in the
kitchen for quick location of items and an entryway hall tree, a hotel's
version of a mud room where guests can hang keys, coats, umbrellas, and
other items. Each suite will also feature a multi-tasking island where
guests can prepare a meal, watch TV, or work on their laptop.
Customized Food and Beverage: In addition to a large spread of
savory, sweet, and healthy items,Hyatt House guests will enjoy
an Eggs Your Way complimentary breakfast where they will be able to
order eggs and toppings any way they would like from the chef preparing
them fresh each morning. There will also be a daily Open House with high
quality food and drinks at happy hour prices offered seven days a week
from 5 to 10 p.m. in sync with the schedules of today's travelers.
The redesigned guest market will offer traditional and gourmet groceries
and other items for purchase. Personal shopping services will also be
available, giving all guests a chance to easily have their refrigerators
stocked with food and comfort items.
"Hyatt House is designed to stand out from other hotels in the
select-service and extended-stay category, which will make us more
attractive for developers in markets all over the world who want to add
preferred brands to their portfolios," said Hoplamazian. "Expansion of
our select-service brands globally is key to achieving our vision of
serving as the preferred brand for frequent travelers."
In addition to its 54 extended-stay hotels currently open in the U.S.,
Hyatt has additional properties in this segment under development in key
markets in North America, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia.
A Familiar Name With a New Look
The name Hyatt House was selected as an identifier that signals a
residential, welcoming, personal and hospitable experience. Hyatt House
also has historical significance as the name of the first Hyatt hotel,
which opened in 1957.
The new logo, an iconic double lowercase/uppercase "H" with a curved
square flag in a bold blue hue, was chosen as distinctive in the
category but connected to the overall Hyatt brand.
"Every signature element in the Hyatt House model departs from the
traditional extended-stay experience to meet the needs of today's
consumers, in particular those frequent travelers looking for a strong
community environment," said John Wallis, global head of marketing and
brand strategy for Hyatt Hotels Corporation. "This fresh, innovative
concept, based on extensive consumer research, will make Hyatt House a
standout among extended-stay hotels and will make life away from home
for guests easier and more enjoyable."
Hyatt Summerfield Suites hotels and Hotel Sierra hotels are expected to
complete their name and signage changes by early 2012. Service upgrades
and remodeling are expected to occur over the course of the next year to
incorporate Hyatt House signature elements into each property.
For more information on Hyatt House hotels, visit www.hyattdevelopment.com.
About Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading
global hospitality company with a proud heritage of making guests feel
more than welcome. Thousands of members of the Hyatt family strive to
make a difference in the lives of the guests they encounter every day by
providing authentic hospitality. The Company's subsidiaries manage,
franchise, own and develop hotels and resorts under the Hyatt(R),
Park Hyatt(R), Andaz(R), Grand Hyatt(R), Hyatt Regency(R), Hyatt Place(R)and Hyatt Summerfield Suites(R) brand names and have
locations on six continents. Hyatt Summerfield Suites is
being rebranded as Hyatt HouseTM.Hyatt Residential Group, Inc., a Hyatt Hotels Corporation
subsidiary, develops, operates, markets or licenses Hyatt
ResidencesTM and Hyatt Vacation Club(R),which is changing its name to Hyatt Residence ClubTM.
As of June 30, 2011, the Company's worldwide portfolio consisted of 456
properties in 44 countries. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release, which are not historical facts, are
"forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.These statements
include statements about our plans, strategies, financial performance,
prospects or future events and involve known and unknown risks that are
difficult to predict.As a result, our actual results,
performance or achievements may differ materially from those expressed
or implied by these forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can
identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "may,"
"could," "expect," "intend," "plan," "seek," "anticipate," "believe,"
"estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "likely," "will,"
"would" and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the
negative of these terms or similar expressions.Such
forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon estimates and
assumptions that, while considered reasonable by us and our management,
are inherently uncertain.Factors that may cause actual results
to differ materially from current expectations include, among others,
the rate and pace of economic recovery following the recent economic
downturn; levels of spending in business and leisure segments as well as
consumer confidence; declines in occupancy and average daily rate;
hostilities, including future terrorist attacks, or fear of hostilities
that affect travel; travel-related accidents; changes in the tastes and
preferences of our customers; relationships with associates and labor
unions and changes in labor law; the financial condition of, and our
relationships with, third-party property owners, franchisees and
hospitality venture partners; risk associated with potential
acquisitions and dispositions and the introduction of new brand
concepts; changes in the competitive environment in our industry and the
markets where we operate; outcomes of legal proceedings; changes in
federal, state, local or foreign tax law; fluctuations in currency
exchange rates; general volatility of the capital markets and our
ability to access the capital markets. A more complete description of
these risks and uncertainties can be found in our filings with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form
10-K.We caution you not to place undue reliance on any
forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date of this press
release. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any of these
forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, new information or
future events, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors
affecting forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by
applicable laws.If we update one or more forward-looking
statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional
updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50005515&lang=en

SOURCE: Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Laurie Cole, +1-312-780-5935
laurie.cole@hyatt.com
Jamie Zimmerman, +1-312-780-6070
jamie.zimmerman@hyatt.com